Dr. Robin Sanders Speaks at the 18th Wole Soyinka Lecture

Organisers of the Wole Soyinka Annual Lecture, National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) announce the theme for the 18th edition: “Escalating Fundamentalism, Terrorism and Insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa: Economic Development and Imperatives of Building Strong Democratic Institutions”

Dr. Robin Sanders Speaks at the 18th Wole Soyinka Lecture

This year’s Lecture, which is 18th in the series, will hold on 12th June 2015 at Greenbelt Marriott Hotel, Washington DC, United States. It is especially dedicated to all the victims; individuals, families and nations that have been impacted by the brutal and unprecedented surge in armed insurgency and transnational terrorism. It sets out to identify, highlight and discuss the issues, circumstances, factors and influences that have contributed to the current state of insecurity threatening the corporate existence and sovereignty of many nations, especially across sub-Saharan Africa.

The theme for the 2015 Lecture Series is: “Escalating Fundamentalism, Terrorism and Insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa: Economic Development and Imperatives of Building Strong Democratic Institutions”. This theme acknowledges the direct adverse impact trans-national terrorism and official corruption have had on socio-economic development, cultural and societal evolution in Sub-Saharan Africa, as President Barack Obama vividly captured during his 30th June, 2013 visit to Capetown, South Africa, “The United States is deeply committed to helping African countries strengthen their political institutions, address the challenges of governance, promote an active and empowered civil society, and uphold human rights. We view these efforts as vital to achieving Africa’s economic and security goals, because strong, accountable, and transparent institutions and a commitment to the rule of law help attract investment and generate prosperity, create trust in government, and help mitigate conflict and protect civilians from violence”

The Key Note Speaker for this event is Ambassador Dr. Robin Renee Sanders, whose illustrious career as a diplomat, scholar, social entrepreneur, economic development advocate and cultural icon speaks volumes of an eminent capacity to adequately explore and elucidate the salient issues of the subject matter. Ambassador Sanders is a subject matter expert on Africa; the passion and commitment she exhibited for Afro-centric development culminated in her appointment as United States Ambassador to Republic of Congo (2002-2005) and Nigeria (2008-2010), among other high responsibilities. She has consistently shown unwavering purposefulness, clarity of thoughts and extensiveness of action, especially in addressing issues of food and social security, education, economic development, democracy, power and empowerment of at-risk communities within and beyond the shores of the United States of America.

Celebrating a role model like the Nobel Laureate, who, through his life’s work, vigorous, selfless engagement of the community of man to curb social injustice and irresponsible government has become a beacon of hope and a moral compass to many; with his peculiar sense of humanism. This is a unique opportunity for members of the confraternity to provide a platform for robust discussion, a platform to proffer answers to critical problems facing our nation Nigeria in particular and humanity at large. Using this global figure as a rallying point speaks loudly of the direction of the group’s community causes and the adoption of a multi-dimensional approach to the realization of our visions for a better world.